Controversial Comments by House Judiciary Committee Member
House Judiciary Committee member Hank Johnson (R-Ga.) stirred controversy during a recent markup meeting, drawing comparisons to the Holocaust while addressing the deportation of Kilmer Abrego Garcia and the arrest of Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan.
Johnson referenced the confession of German preacher Martin Niemoller, who famously reflected on his passivity during the rise of the Nazis. “First, they came for Latinos outside Home Depot, trying to find work to support their families,” Johnson said. “And I’m not a Latino at Home Depot, so I didn’t say anything.”
He continued by mentioning how Hispanic individuals were targeted, indicating that some were sent back to El Salvador, and added that he remained silent because he didn’t fit the profile of those being oppressed. “Then they came for Latinos caring for children, including American citizens—one even undergoing cancer treatment,” he elaborated.
Johnson connected this feeling to protests against Hamas on college campuses, a focus of the previous Trump administration. He described how individuals were detained in private centers at taxpayer expense, identifying them as victims of “jackbooted thugs.”
Regarding Judge Dugan’s arrest on charges related to immigration, Johnson said he did not speak out previously because he didn’t identify as a “white female judge.” He reflected, “But they came for me. I looked around, and there was no one left because I was silent.”
Johnson pointed out that his comments were inspired by the poem, emphasizing that the issues confronted today mirror those of the past. He urged for recognition of constitutional rights, asserting, “Everyone is entitled to a legitimate process, whether you’re documented, undocumented, or a citizen.”
He noted that efforts during the meeting aimed to affirm these rights, proposing amendments to ensure that funds are not used in ways that infringe on the rights of foreigners under the Fifth Amendment.
Responses to Johnson’s remarks were mixed, with Republican accounts poking fun at his statements, highlighting a perceived oversimplification of the issue. Johnson’s penchant for colorful and provocative rhetoric has been a hallmark since at least 2010 when he made headlines during a House Armed Forces Committee hearing regarding military construction plans in Guam.
Recent discussions have leveraged Johnson’s comments to raise concerns about due process in similar contexts.
